Entering 2025, we’re projecting a number of Padres prospects to have the potential for a breakout season. To qualify, a player must rank outside the organization’s Top 10 prospects entering the year. All scouting reports are from Baseball America’s 2025 Prospect handbook, which you can purchase here.You can find Top 10 prospect rankings for all teams here and all breakout candidates here. Breakout Prospects Bradgley Rodriguez, RHP Preseason Rank: 13BA Grade/Risk: 45/High Track Record: Rodriguez was signed out of Venezuela in 2021 for $370,000 but elbow issues wiped out his two ensuing seasons. He quickly made up for lost time in his stateside debut in 2024, pitching across three levels after beginning with Low-A Lake Elsinore. Rodriguez pitched his way to a 2.64 ERA with 75 strikeouts to 31 walks across 61.1 innings. Scouting Report: Rodriguez is an undersized righthander with some thickness in his lower half. He operated exclusively out of the stretch in the second half of 2024 and has a high-effort delivery with a three-quarters slot and plenty of arm speed. Rodriguez’s upper-90s fastball touches 101 with life in the top half of the zone. His best pitch is an upper-80s-to-low-90s plus changeup for which he has an advanced feel and is comfortable throwing in any count. He maintains his arm speed and it routinely flashes late tumbling life with some fade to the arm side. It generated a gaudy 58% miss rate in 2024. Rodriguez rounds out his arsenal with an upper-80s-to-low-90s slider that he uses mainly against righthanded hitters. It’s shorter in shape, but it flashes sharp two-plane tilt at times and worked a 53% miss rate. Rodriguez is a fringy strike-thrower with inconsistent control, but it’s more of an effective wildness than anything. The Future: A reliever all the way, Rodriguez could continue to move quickly. He figures to begin 2025 in Double-A and a late-season major league debut is not out of the question. Scouting Grades: FB: 60. SL: 50. CH: 65. CTL: 45. Kai Roberts, OF Preseason Rank: 22BA Grade/Risk: 45/Extreme Track Record: Roberts showed flashes throughout his four-year career at Utah, then parlayed a strong 2023 summer circuit into a breakout 2024 season where he posted career-highs in every major statistical category. The Padres drafted him in the seventh round and he carried it over to Low-A Lake Elsinore, hitting .340/.414/.470 in 24 games. Scouting Report: Roberts has a tall, lanky frame and stands tall in the box. He has a noticeable barrel tip and his hands drift a little bit in his load, and he is a small-strider with present bat speed. Roberts posted just a 69% overall contact rate and did most of his damage against fastballs. He’ll need to get better at picking up spin. Although he struggled to make contact against secondaries, Roberts’ swing decisions were advanced and his overall chase rate was just 20% in his pro debut. He uses the entire field with a particular knack for going the other way. Roberts is a double-plus runner and instinctual, effective base-stealer. He is a rangy outfield defender whose speed and athleticism allow him to cover plenty of ground in all directions. Roberts’ arm is fringe-average, but his overall defensive skillset gives him a chance to stick in center field. The Future: Roberts is entering his age-24 season, but his present tools are intriguing. He figures to reach High-A Fort Wayne in relatively short order. Scouting Grades: HIT: 45. POW: 40. RUN: 70. FLD: 55. ARM: 45. Sean Barnett, OF/RHP Preseason Rank: 25BA Grade/Risk: 45/Extreme Track Record: Barnett was one of the best Division II players in 2024 when he hit .349/.399/.740 with 26 home runs in 59 games for Wingate. He also pitched sparingly out of the bullpen. The Padres drafted him as a two-way player in the 11th round in 2024 and he hit .280/.333/.420 in 12 games with Low-A Lake Elsinore. Scouting Report: Barnett has a strong, athletic build with plenty of bat speed, but it’s his upside on the mound that has created plenty of internal buzz with the Padres. Barnett is a low-mileage arm with an easy, athletic delivery with plenty of arm speed. His fastball touched 98 mph this fall with upwards of 20 inches of ride through the zone. He supplements it with a power slider that creeps into the low 90s and has the makings of a future swing-and-miss pitch. He’s raw on the mound and needs a few coats of polish, but the upside is tantalizing. At the plate, Barnett has below-average contact skills and he will need to refine his swing decisions. He’s an average defender in right field with a plus arm. The Future: Barnett is a potential pick to click in the Padres system, even if it’s unclear which side of the ball he ends up on. His ceiling appears higher on the mound. Expect him to toe the rubber for the first time professionally in 2025. Scouting Grades: HIT: 40. POW: 50. RUN: 45. FLD: 50. ARM: 65.

San Diego Padres Breakout MLB Prospects For 2025

To qualify, a player must rank outside the organization’s Top 10 prospects entering the year. All scouting reports are from Baseball America’s 2025 Prospect handbook, which you can purchase here.Preseason Rank: 25BA Grade/Risk: 45/ExtremeThe Future: Barnett is a potential pick to click in the Padres system, even if it’s unclear which side of the ball he […]

To qualify, a player must rank outside the organization’s Top 10 prospects entering the year. All scouting reports are from Baseball America’s 2025 Prospect handbook, which you can purchase here.Preseason Rank: 25
BA Grade/Risk: 45/ExtremeThe Future: Barnett is a potential pick to click in the Padres system, even if it’s unclear which side of the ball he ends up on. His ceiling appears higher on the mound. Expect him to toe the rubber for the first time professionally in 2025.

Breakout Prospects

Bradgley Rodriguez, RHP

The Future: Roberts is entering his age-24 season, but his present tools are intriguing. He figures to reach High-A Fort Wayne in relatively short order.

Scouting Grades: FB: 60. SL: 50. CH: 65. CTL: 45.

You can find Top 10 prospect rankings for all teams here and all breakout candidates here.

Track Record: Barnett was one of the best Division II players in 2024 when he hit .349/.399/.740 with 26 home runs in 59 games for Wingate. He also pitched sparingly out of the bullpen. The Padres drafted him as a two-way player in the 11th round in 2024 and he hit .280/.333/.420 in 12 games with Low-A Lake Elsinore.

Scouting Report: Roberts has a tall, lanky frame and stands tall in the box. He has a noticeable barrel tip and his hands drift a little bit in his load, and he is a small-strider with present bat speed. Roberts posted just a 69% overall contact rate and did most of his damage against fastballs. He’ll need to get better at picking up spin. Although he struggled to make contact against secondaries, Roberts’ swing decisions were advanced and his overall chase rate was just 20% in his pro debut. He uses the entire field with a particular knack for going the other way. Roberts is a double-plus runner and instinctual, effective base-stealer. He is a rangy outfield defender whose speed and athleticism allow him to cover plenty of ground in all directions. Roberts’ arm is fringe-average, but his overall defensive skillset gives him a chance to stick in center field.

Kai Roberts, OF

Scouting Report: Rodriguez is an undersized righthander with some thickness in his lower half. He operated exclusively out of the stretch in the second half of 2024 and has a high-effort delivery with a three-quarters slot and plenty of arm speed. Rodriguez’s upper-90s fastball touches 101 with life in the top half of the zone. His best pitch is an upper-80s-to-low-90s plus changeup for which he has an advanced feel and is comfortable throwing in any count. He maintains his arm speed and it routinely flashes late tumbling life with some fade to the arm side. It generated a gaudy 58% miss rate in 2024. Rodriguez rounds out his arsenal with an upper-80s-to-low-90s slider that he uses mainly against righthanded hitters. It’s shorter in shape, but it flashes sharp two-plane tilt at times and worked a 53% miss rate. Rodriguez is a fringy strike-thrower with inconsistent control, but it’s more of an effective wildness than anything.

The Future: A reliever all the way, Rodriguez could continue to move quickly. He figures to begin 2025 in Double-A and a late-season major league debut is not out of the question.

Track Record: Rodriguez was signed out of Venezuela in 2021 for 0,000 but elbow issues wiped out his two ensuing seasons. He quickly made up for lost time in his stateside debut in 2024, pitching across three levels after beginning with Low-A Lake Elsinore. Rodriguez pitched his way to a 2.64 ERA with 75 strikeouts to 31 walks across 61.1 innings.

Scouting Grades: HIT: 45. POW: 40. RUN: 70. FLD: 55. ARM: 45.

Preseason Rank: 22
BA Grade/Risk: 45/Extreme

Sean Barnett, OF/RHP

Scouting Grades: HIT: 40. POW: 50. RUN: 45. FLD: 50. ARM: 65. | FB: 60. SL: 55. CTL: 45.

Scouting Report: Barnett has a strong, athletic build with plenty of bat speed, but it’s his upside on the mound that has created plenty of internal buzz with the Padres. Barnett is a low-mileage arm with an easy, athletic delivery with plenty of arm speed. His fastball touched 98 mph this fall with upwards of 20 inches of ride through the zone. He supplements it with a power slider that creeps into the low 90s and has the makings of a future swing-and-miss pitch. He’s raw on the mound and needs a few coats of polish, but the upside is tantalizing. At the plate, Barnett has below-average contact skills and he will need to refine his swing decisions. He’s an average defender in right field with a plus arm.

Entering 2025, we’re projecting a number of Padres prospects to have the potential for a breakout season.

Track Record: Roberts showed flashes throughout his four-year career at Utah, then parlayed a strong 2023 summer circuit into a breakout 2024 season where he posted career-highs in every major statistical category. The Padres drafted him in the seventh round and he carried it over to Low-A Lake Elsinore, hitting .340/.414/.470 in 24 games.

Preseason Rank: 13
BA Grade/Risk: 45/High